You can't have too many Billy Budd productions

London Coliseum @

- London @

- Sat 23 Jun 2012 @

Posted 26/06/2012

by Phoenicia

Location:Don't know what this means

You can't beat a good short maritime story by Melville or an opera by Britten. This has always been one of my favourite operas, so unless it is a complete disaster, I would recommend it to anybody. And I recommend this. The orchestra was particularly fabulous as was the chorus. All singing parts were strong with the exception of Billy, but his star turn, 'Billy in the Darbies' was beautiful. For Billy to have the force he does, he needs to demonstrate a beautiful, commanding physicality which can only be shown through very masterful choreography, which this set never allowed. So I am still wrestling with set and costumes: with the comparison of Battleship Potemkin with gulag slave-soldiers as a valid metaphor for post- Nore mutiny, 18th century British Navy at its most glorious, courageous and brutal. Go see it for yourself and decide!